Spokane regional health officials are urging residents to get their flu shots as the number of people contracting the illness increases.
Spokane’s health district reports four people have died from the flu this season; 89 people have been hospitalized, many of those coming in the last couple of weeks. Six influenza deaths have been reported in Washington.
In North Idaho, two people have died from the flu. Hospitalization rates are increasing there too.
Spokane Regional Health District epidemiologist Mark Springer says the H1N1 virus that was less prominent last year seems to be be stronger this season. It affects working age people more than the young and the old.
“We’re still at a point where vaccine is a good option because, in most cases, flu season for us goes through the end of February and it usually takes about two weeks to get the full effects of the vaccine,” Springer said.
Springer urges people who have symptoms of the flu, such as trouble breathing, fever and coughing, to get medical help. He’s urging people who don’t have their own doctors to visit urgent care clinics, rather than hospital emergency rooms.